[14] Service in the Philippines was as an inter-island vessel with later references associated with the acquisition by the Red Cross as a hospital ship mentioning the copra trade.

Another ship, the Apo, had been intended to serve but was unobtainable so that the choice fell to having the Mactan, under captain Julian Tamayo, released from Army charter.

Major General Basilio J. Valdes, commanding the Philippine Army and President Quezon had worked with MacArthur's headquarters in that process with the Mactan, an interisland copra ship, being located and designated on 28 December.

Two-hundred and twenty-four patients left behind at Sternberg General Hospital in Manila were selected and, under the terms, only three U.S. military personnel other than patients were allowed on board; Army surgeon Colonel Percy J. Carroll and Army nurses, Lt. Floramund A. Fellmeth and Lt. Florence MacDonald.

A plan was made to have the Army transport Don Esteban's charts transferred as the ship left the breakwater.

Shortly after midnight and the New Year Mactan got underway, still without Japanese reply of a clearance and safe passage, and in the light of the burning city and gasoline dumps at Pandacan anchored to wait for Don Esteban and the charts.

Even though the charts delivered were more general than desirable the ship weighed anchor to meet a U.S. naval vessel for guidance through the mine fields defending Manila Bay.

[20] In the Sulu Sea the presence of a dangerous reef[Note 1] and passing it at night was cause to turn back and steam slowly to pass the reef in daylight even though that increased contact with Japanese forces already in northeastern Borneo and Davao on Mindanao with still no confirmation of Japanese safe passage.

The reef and string of islands marking the entrance to the Celebes Sea were passed safely in daylight of 3 January when the news of Manila's occupation by Japanese troops arrived along with the beginnings of a storm.

Meanwhile, official Japanese radio in Tokyo was reporting MacArthur wounded in the right shoulder and speculating that he was aboard the hospital ship heading to Australia.

[7] On 29 November 1944 Mactan left Hollandia for a return to home waters carrying the advance headquarters of USASOS SWPA where she served as quarters vessel at Tacloban, Lyete.

The ship, needing extensive repairs, was retired and about to be returned to its Philippine owners on 1 September 1945 after again serving the Army as an interisland transport.